“Well?” he said.

She sank down in a chair.

“Please go away.”

At his least movement towards her she sprang up, white and trembling, but calm of voice.

“No.... I can’t bear it.... And please never come back—never.”

“But you said——”

“I said nothing.”

“No—not said, but——”

“Oh!” she exclaimed quickly; “I may have been wrong outwardly. But don’t blame me for having deceived you. You were never deceived.”

He smiled at her as at a child momentarily in a foolish mood, and went out of the room. On the stairs he met Hugh.